His reason for running had been to ensure there was an election and that favourite Meurig Raymond, now deputy, had a challenger, he said. When vice president Adam Quinney decided to run, it sparked the process. Mr Smith said he wanted to focus now on the potentially more winnable vice-presidency.

“Technically I never took up the nomination for president from my county annual general meeting but instead I have taken up the nomination for vice president from the regional board,” he said.

The nominees have been confirmed for the NFU officeholder elections 2014 to 2016 as: